Hi guys, long time no see. I got back from a five month trip in Asia 6 weeks ago. I visited India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Vietnam is very easy on us Vegans; Thailand was a bit hard; Malaysia was fairly easy as everything is in Eng; Singapore was also easy, but India was the worst: I was eating gee for months and did not even know it, but I had the best tofu steak and scrambled tofu ever, in Pushkar, Rajisthan.

I spent 5 months is Asia and it only cost me about 3.6k (all flight etc included). For 1000 a month, you can live like a maharajah. We lived like kings on our budget though. Thailand is not hard at all. Try India. I insist.

Tips:

Travel on your own! lol. My best friend of eight years turned into a monster from hell for half of my trip. I have not told him this. I don't do conflict. If I did I would have been home after 2 months.

When bartering, assume the price is actually 1/8th of what they are asking for.

That's fucking awesome GenTDuke! Cool pics! That braclet is dogsbollocks! Looks like you had an amazing time travelling! Very very Jealous!
Digging the sideburns and the shaven head! had something like that going on a few years ago

Post more pics? we'd all love to see them!

****** Vegan Atheist ******Most atheists see themselves as realists - their atheism is a part of their willingness to square up to the world as it is and face it without recourse to superstition or comforting fictions about a life to come or a benevolent power looking after us.

I had nine injections, in the three weeks before the trip. My freinds mum is a nurse so she did it for me. I have an irrational fear of needles, thanks to a forced blood extraction when I was around 7 (which I have rivid memories of). So if she didn't do it, I would not of had them. They where for rabies and a few other things. Yes trust me, you need rabies shots. I was almost bitten by rabid dogs a few times.

I took doxycylin (malaria drug) for the entire trip. I had no ill effects at all.

****** Vegan Atheist ******Most atheists see themselves as realists - their atheism is a part of their willingness to square up to the world as it is and face it without recourse to superstition or comforting fictions about a life to come or a benevolent power looking after us.

you are very fortunate to travel to all those places. I will have to try them out sometime. Im very interested in Thailand and India.

Thanks man. I don't have my chops and beard anymore. I had to shave them off for work. Thailand is super easy to travel, and would be good for any noobie backpacker to start out.

How do you get Indian food without Ghee in it?

Don't eat the curry. "Yes my friend, no problem" will be the response if you ask for a non-dairy version, but that has never happened for me. I spoke to a lady who owned a health food shop, and even she could not imagine a way of cooking curry without ghee. She said that al my ethical concerns did not apply in India, as they are holy animals and treated as such. I am not sure if the dairy industry is any different to the rest of the world, but that made me feel a bit better.

Oh yeah. Paneer which is the local cheese, looks, tastes and is sold as tofu in restaurants allot.

Also how hard is it to get around if one only speaks English?

English is the national language of India. Everyone speaks it. Thailand can be a little hard in some places, but it's not an issue. I would recommend picking up some audio books, so you don't feel like an ignorant SOB though (like I did).

More Tips:

BLUE GOLD! handwash which is based on alcohol and dries in your hands. This is essential. When you decide not to wash your hand because it is cleaner, you know that the country your in has sanitation issues.

shit i forgot about rabies. Seems you have to get 3 doses over a 4week period though, and even then that only extends your get-to-a-hospital-fast period by a day or so? i leave in a week.. hmm...
maybe i can get the other 2 in Bangkok if I want to get it done.

I was in wetland area in Brazil (dry season) and didnt take maleria tabs, but used DEET.